Accept a Federal CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation Air Quality) grant in the amount of $129,750 for development of a City Non-motorized Transportation Plan.

Background

As previously reported, Puyallup is required to complete a major update to its Comprehensive Plan by June 30, 2015, including specific amendments to the Transportation Element. Per RCW 36.70A.070(6)(a), a major required component of this update is a non-motorized transportation plan within the Transportation Element.

Staff has estimated the cost of developing a complete non-motorized transportation plan to be approximately $150,000 and has sought grant opportunities to fund this work. A non-motorized transportation plan would address system standards, existing conditions, design standards and cost/benefit analysis as well as implementation strategies related to ADA transitions, complete street networks, traffic calming, crosswalks, safe routes to schools, and connectivity. In May of 2012, the City applied for CMAQ funding for this project (via the Puget Sound Regional Council ), but was not approved at that time. The project was placed on a PSRC contingency list pending funding availability.

The City was recently notified that, due to a shift in the prior funding list, Puyallup's non-motorized transportation plan project is now likely to be awarded the requested funding, pending a final vote by the PSRC Executive Board on May 23, 2013. To receive these funds, we must obligate them with WSDOT's approval by August 1, 2013. As noted below, this grant requires a 13.5% local share, which is projected to come from already-budgeted long-range planning professional services funds.

A number of steps must be completed by the August 1 obligation date, resulting in a very tight timeline. In order to make the best effort to secure these funds, staff is asking that the City Council accept the grant at this time, pending official PSRC approval. Once the grant is secured, actual work on the non-motorized plan - expected to involve a consultant, in coordination with City Planning and Traffic Engineering staff - would occur throughout 2014, concurrently with the pending update to the Transportation Element and other elements of the Comp Plan. A consultant contract on this project would be subject to future City Council approval.

Previous Actions (Discussions/Presentations)

At a February 12, 2013 City Council study session, Planning staff presented information on the upcoming 2015 Comprehensive Plan periodic update. As part of that update, the City is required to include a non-motorized transportation plan within the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan (RCW 36.70A.070(6)(a)).

Summary of Proposal

Under this proposal, the City Council will accept a federal CMAQ grant in the amount of $129,750 for achieving a Non-motorized Transportation Plan. A required 13.5% local match ($20,250) will be provided by Development Services long-range planning professional services funds, which are already budgeted.

Alternatives/Options

Council could choose not to accept this grant; however, completion of the plan is still a required component of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan update. Rejecting the grant would mean that implementation of the non-motorized plan would need to occur in some other manner, likely involving additional funds from the City's General Fund.

Accepting this grant will allow this plan to be completed concurrently with the other elements of the Comprehensive Plan, without requiring the full cost to be paid from City funds.

Fiscal Impact

Amount Budgeted:

$150,000

Bid Amount:

City Funding Needed for Project:

$20,250

Funds from Other Sources:

$129,750

Ongoing Staff Costs:

*

Fiscal Impacts:

Matching funds for this CMAQ grant in the amount of $20,250 (13.5%) are required and will be provided from long-range planning professional service funds which are encumbered in the Development Services budget.
*It is expected that existing Development Services staff would oversee work with the selected project consultant as the plan is drafted. Staff time will also be required to present the plan to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation and to the City Council for consideration and adoption.